The Detroit Tigers had a very eventful season last year. They showed potential and had some standout performances form some of their players. Miguel Cabrera continued to make history reaching the 3000th career hit milestone. Pitcher Tarik Skubal had a breakout season, demonstrating his potential as a top-notch pitcher. The tigers also had some promising rookies, like Spencer Torkelson, who made his mark on the lineup both up to bat and on the field. They were not expected to make the playoffs this season as it would likely be another growth and progress season. This goal was met however, as the Tigers have certainly capitalized on last season and are ready to a contender for the playoffs this season.
Pitching:
The Detroit Tiger’s starting pitching staff is looking promising for this upcoming season. While they may not have all-star pitchers, they are still talented and have the potential to become all-stars. Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal will be key contributors to the rotation. Casey Mize had a 4.06 ERA and had 135 strikeouts in 2021 before getting back and Tommy John surgery. Being healthy again, Mize can significantly help out the rotation. Tarik Skubal had a 2.80 ERA and 102 strikeouts, during his recovering season, which is very promising. The weaker starting pitchers on the Tiger’s roster include Turnbull and Matthew Boyd. Spencer had a 7.26 ERA and 24 strikeouts with 7 starts, while Boyd had a 5.45 ERA and 73 strikeouts with 15 starts. Additionally, the Tigers have some young arms in their farm system, like Matt Manning and Alex Faedo, who could make an impact. The Tiger’s notable and relivers and closers include Gregory Soto, and Michael Fulmer. Soto had a 4.62 ERA, 65 strikeouts, 3 saves with 60.1 innings pitched. Michael Fulmer had a 4.42 ERA, 65 strikeouts, 2 saves with 57 innings pitched. Overall, the Detroit Tiger’s pitching staff is sufficient enough to make it to the playoffs but would need an all star if they want to have a chance at the pennant let alone the World Series.
Fielding:
The Detroit Tigers coaches prioritized a strong defense when drawing up the roster. Some notable defenders include short stop Niko Goodrum, third baseman Jeimer Candelario, and center fielder Akil Baddoo. All these players made multiple extraordinary plays in the field and had minimal amounts of errors. Veteran and fan favorite Miguel Cabrera played first base and held his own compared to other at the first base position. Since Miguel Cabrera retired though, the Tigers are going to have to find a sufficient player to fill his spot. The Detroit Tigers have one of the most athletic teams in the league, making there fielding some of the best in the league.
Hitting:
This is where the Tigers struggle the most. There offensive outputs have been consistently sub-par and have been an increasing focus of the coaching staff. They have been doing this by investing in the development in young players, and in acquiring impactful players to boost their offensive out puts. Throughout these past few seasons, the Tigers have been building a strong foundation for success seen in this upcoming season, or seasons in the close future. However, just because the team is overall sub-par at hitting, not everyone else is. Akil Baddoo made a strong impression of his offensive capabilities with his hitting and speed around the bases. In 312 at bats Baddoo had a .218 batting average, 68 hits, 11 homeruns, and 34 RBIs with 89 strikeouts.
Coaching:
The coaching for the Tigers has been solid. Manager A.J Hinch and his coaching staff have done a good job at developing young talent and implementing effective strategies to win as many games as possible. They have been focused on player development and developing a positive team culture. Their guidance and leadership has been instrumental in the team’s progress and improvement. They have also faced struggle in certain areas. One area that they have been focused on improving is their team’s pitching performance, particularly in terms of consistency and developing young pitchers. Additionally, they have been working on refining the team’s defensive skill and overall team strategy. Their have been many noticeable, positive changes that are a result of the coaching staff and hopefully, they can guide this team to the playoffs and possibly beyond.
-Benjamin Saylor
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